Spinner toy

ABSTRACT

An object spinner providing playful engagement between a threaded spindle and a spinning object providing a threaded hole to rotatably engage the threaded spindle is provided. The threaded portion of the spindle is angled to provide a moving distance along the spindle with a single rotation so that spinning object bearing the threaded hole is urges to move along the spindle with the urging of gravitational or other applied forces. A rolling element bearing using balls may maintain separation between the spinning object and a spinning nut providing the threaded hole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toy and, more particularly, to a toy comprising a spinning disc on a screw spindle.

Spinning toys, such as tops, are well known in the art. More recently fidget spinner toys have become very popular. Fidget spinners, however, can only rotate around a single axis and can only spin.

As can be seen, there is a need for a handheld spinning object toy that offers a new form of directed motion and multiple methods of play. The handheld spinning object toy of the present invention provides a threaded shaft, a disc adapted to spin along the threaded shaft, wherein the disc embodies a spinning nut for repeatable motion. The present invention enables spinning the object along the shaft in a manner that incorporates a flippable motion into the object, providing the user with a new form of motion and playful engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a spinner toy having a spindle provides a spindle having moving threading formed along a circumference thereof as the spindle extends along a longitudinal axis; and an object providing a threaded hole adapted to rotatably engage the moving threading when the object is urged parallel to the longitudinal axis. In one aspect of the present invention, a spinner toy having a threaded spindle along a longitudinal axis; and an object providing a threaded hole adapted to engage the threading allowing the object to rotate along the longitudinal axis of the spindle.

In another aspect of the present invention, the spinner toy provides a spindle having moving threading formed along a circumference thereof as the spindle extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the moving threading has a moving distance to a thread distance ratio of approximately eight to one (8:1), but ranging between (10:1 to 5:1); a disc-shaped object providing a hub; a spinning nut operatively associated with the hub, the spinning nut providing a threaded hole adapted to rotatably engage the moving threading when the object is urged parallel to the longitudinal axis; and two endcaps, each endcap affixed or machined to opposing distal ends of the spindle.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in two-handed use in a horizontal orientation;

FIG. 4B is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the spinning of disc 16 along a spindle 10 when pushed by a user 60;

FIG. 5A is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in one-handed use in a vertical orientation;

FIG. 5B is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the spinning of disc 16 along the spindle 10 when inverted;

FIG. 6A is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in one-handed use in a vertical orientation;

FIG. 6B is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the spinning of disc 16 along the spindle 10 when pushed by a user 60;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 21-21 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 24-24 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a counter 50 of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the counter 50, illustrating its placement on spindle 10;

FIG. 27 is perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the spindle 10 of the present invention; and

FIG. 28 is perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the spindle 10 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an object spinner providing playful engagement between a threaded spindle and a spinning object providing a threaded hole to rotatably engage the threaded spindle. The threaded portion of the spindle is angled to provide a moving distance along the spindle with a single rotation so that the spinning object bearing the threaded hole moves along the spindle with the urging of gravitational or other applied forces, such as those applied via a user's fingers or hands. A rolling element ball bearing may maintain separation between the spinning object and a spinning nut providing the threaded hole.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 28, the present invention may include an object spinner 100. The object spinner 100 may be made of metallic material, glass, wood, plasticized material, composites thereof, or the like, including edible versions.

The object spinner 100 may include a spindle 10 having circumferential threading 12 formed thereupon. The spindle 10 may be 6 mm-30 mm in diameter, 50 mm-400 mm in length, or longer. The circumferential threading 12 may be a left-handed or right-handed angled, moving thread, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The distance between each subsequent thread in FIG. 2, or “pitch”, is indicated by reference number 31. However, the total moving distance 33 along the spindle 10 with a single rotation is indicated by reference number 33. The moving distance 33 may be approximately eight times larger than thread distance 31, so that eight threads separated by the thread distance 31 are included in each circumferential threading 12, as shown in FIG. 2. This ratio can also be in the ranges of 10:1, 9:1, 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, 5:1.

The circumferential threading 12 may have screw lead values from 10 mm to 40 mm or longer. The “screw lead” being the distance an object having a threaded hole (22, 26, 38, 50) travels in one full rotation along the spindle 10 axis. The number of “starts” 10, or additional threads, pitch 31, and lead 33, in the screw and corresponding nut or spinner can vary based on the desired size, diameter, length, and rotational spin play of the toy.

The threading 12 may also have partial threading or helical tracks that follow along the spindle that are in a non-sequential threaded order, allowing for blank space between the threads, as illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28.

The spinning object 16, 24, 28 of the present invention may be disc shaped. The disc shape may be tapered in height, wherein upper and lower surfaces 62 and 64 converge toward a distal circumferential edge 66 at an angle of inclination may range from approximately thirty to forty-five degrees. The angle of inclination and resulting tapering upper and lower surfaces 62 and 64 aid in urging the spinning object 16, 24, 28 along the circumferential threading 12. Specifically, vertical, horizontal, or rotational torque forces along the upper and lower surfaces 62 and 64 with resulting in vertical and horizontal vector forces, the latter of which will assist in the rotation about the circumferential threading 12. It being understood that the spinning object 16, 24, 28 may be of other geometric shapes, so long as the spinning object 16, 24, 28 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein.

In certain embodiments, the spinning object 16 may have a 40 mm-70 mm diameter and be 25 mm thick. The spinning object 16 may provide a threaded hole 26 adapted to operatively associate with the circumferential threading 12.

In certain embodiments, the spinning object 16 may provide a hub 18, 30 dimensioned to slidably receive a bearing assembly 32 and/or a spinning nut 20. The spinning nut 20 provides a threaded hole 22 adapted to operatively associate with the circumferential threading 12. The spinning nut 20 may be approximately 8 mm-40 mm in diameter, and 8 mm-25 mm thick. The spinning nut 20 may be adapted to support and guide the spinning object 16 onto the spindle 10. The ball bearing assembly 32 may provide a centered hole for slidably receiving the spinning nut 20, as illustrated in FIG. 15.

In another embodiment, there may be two nuts 36, each providing the threaded hole 38, and each nut 36 disposed on opposing sides of the ball bearing assembly 34 in a stacked configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 16-18. Sandwiching each nut 36 against its respective side of the ball bearing assembly 34 may be a slider 40 providing a slider hole 42 for receiving the spindle 10.

In yet another embodiment, the spinning object 16 may provide the threaded hole 50 in a central “sun” gear 48 operatively associated with an outer ring 44 through orbiting “planet” gears, 46, as illustrated in FIGS. 19-21.

In some embodiments, the spinning object may include a magnet hub 52 dimensioned to slide into the hub 30 of the spinning object 28, wherein a magnet 54 is dimensioned and adapted to slide into the magnetic hub 52.

The object spinner 100 may provide endcaps 14 having a bore hole or thread tap hole to operatively engage the distal ends of the spindle 10. The endcap 14 can also be machined directly out of the spindle. The endcaps 14 may be approximately 10 mm-40 mm in diameter, and 10 mm-40 mm thick. In certain embodiments, an endcap 14 may be replaced by a counter cap 56 providing a display screen adapted to display a resettable count, as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, wherein the counter cap 56 is adapted to keep count of the rotations of the spinning object 16.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The object spinner 100 disclosed above may be provided. Referring to FIGS. 4A through 6B, a user 60 may hold the object spinner 100 between a horizontal and vertical orientation, either single-handedly or by using two hands. The vertical orientation allows the spinner object 16 to fall and rotate due to gravity oriented in the direction of the spindle as the threaded hole 22, 26, 38 rotatably engages the circumferential threading 12. The spinner object 16 will stop once it reaches the end cap 14. The user 16 can then flip the toy over allowing the process to repeat.

The angular momentum of the spinning object 16, 24, 28 will, at the time of endcap 14 contact, impart a force upon the endcap 14 and the overall toy. This force is experienced by the user as a torque on the toy, and is proportional to the angular velocity and the angular inertia of the spinning object 16, 24, 28. The magnitude of this force may vary from a few micro-Newtons to approximately 0.75 Newtons of force or more. This force provides the user with a pressure sensation as the toy is held.

In addition to the torque, the impact of the spinning object 16, 24, 28 on the endcap 14 will also create a small noise that can be heard by the user.

The present invention can additionally be held in the hand in any comfortable manner, and at any angle, including the horizontal orientation, so as to manually rotate the spinning object 16 through urging the spinning object in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the spindle 10. The user 60 may urge the rotational engagement of the spinner object 16 relative to the spindle, through the application of force as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B and 6A and 6B. Additional orientations include holding the spinner object 16, and flipping the spindle 10 allowing the spindle 10 to fall and spin through the spinner object 16. Using a variation of rounded shaped endcaps 14 allows the present invention to briefly spin as a result of the momentum induced as the falling spinner object 16 lands at the bottom of the end cap.

The present invention is designed to be handled and played with. Picking up, holding, and manipulating, the present invention will offer the user the experience necessary to figure out how the mechanism works. A battery operated motorized gearing system with a flywheel may be used with the present invention. The spindle 10 can be interchanged with different screw threads, screw pitch, or screw lead, to allow the spinning object 16 to fall and rotate at different speeds. Electronic elements can be embedded into each of the components to power light sources, motors, gears, and other actions. A dynamo gear box can be attached to the spinning object 16 or spindle 10 that would allow the invention to generate electricity that could be stored in a rechargeable battery to power the toy.

Through repeated flipping of the toy, the user is able to experience a rhythmic timing. This timing is specific to the duration of travel of each spinning object 16, 24, 28 along the spindle 10 between the end caps. This timing can be calculated and tuned for each toy edition, and is related to the angular velocity of the spinning object 16, 24, 28, the size of the pitch 31, lead distance 33, number of starts 10, threading 12, total length of the spindle 10, material, shape, size and weight of the spinning object 16, 24, 28, and where appropriate, the material and friction of the spinning nut 20.

The spinning object 16, 24, 28 rotates between 2 and 6, or more, times around the spindle 10 during each journey of the spinning object from one end to the other end.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A device, comprising: a spindle extending along a longitudinal axis; the spindle having circumferential threading; the threading providing a ratio defined by a number of pitches per each moving distance; the ratio ranging between 10:1 and 5:1; and an object providing a threaded hole rotatably engaging the threading when either the object is urged parallel to the longitudinal axis in a horizontal orientation or urged by gravity in a vertical orientation.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said ratio is approximately eight to one.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the object is disc shaped.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spinning nut operatively associated between the threaded hole and the object, wherein the spinning nut is separable from the object for replacing the object with another object.
 5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a ball bearing assembly operatively associated between the spinning nut and the object.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ball bearing assembly operatively associated between the threaded hole and the object.
 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising two spinning nuts, each spinning nut providing a portion of the threaded hole, and each spinning nut sandwiching the ball bearing assembly.
 8. The device of claim 7, further comprising two sliders, each slider sandwiching opposing spinning nuts of the two spinning nuts to the ball bearing assembly.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising two endcaps, each endcap affixed to opposing distal ends of the spindle.
 10. A device, comprising: a spindle having circumferential threading; the threading providing a ratio defined by a number of pitches per each moving distance; the ratio ranging between 5:1 and 10:1; a disc-shaped object providing a hub; a spinning nut operatively associated with the hub, wherein the spinning nut is separable from the object for replacing the object with another object; the spinning nut providing a threaded hole rotatably engaging the threading; and two endcaps, each endcap affixed to opposing distal ends of the spindle.
 11. The device of claim 4, further comprising a hub for slidably receiving the spinning nut, the hub centrally disposed in the object. 